Improved combination of sofa and vessel s berth



J'; SUTTON. COMBINATION OF SOFA AND VESSELS BERTH.

No. 36,442. PATENTED SEPT. 9, 1862.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SUTTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JAMES GREGORY.

IMPROVED COMBINATION OF SOFA AND VESSELS BERTH.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,44 2, datedSeptember 9, 186).

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN SUTTON, of New York, in the county of New Yorkand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Combined Sofa and Berths; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Said improvements consist in, first, the combination,with the fixedframe, of the verticallysliding seatand berthframeandseatsandberthbottoms, as hereinafter described, by which theseat is made capable, of being converted into berths or the berths intoa seat, in the manner hereinafter set forth; second, thecombination,with the sofa-box so constructed as to allow the cushion tosink into it,so as to allow the box to form berth sides and ends, of theseat-elevating doors or supports hereinafter described, or theirequivalent, by which the cushion or seat is supported when in use for aseat in a higher position than it is necessary to support it when it isused for a berth, as set forth; third, the arrangement at the back ofthe seat, as described, and in combination therewith, ofhoisting-gearthat is to say, in such a manner that the hoisting-gearshall be chiefly placed behind the seat-frame and take hold of saidframe from the back side, said hoisting-gearhaving a shaft or othermedium of communication extended to a convenient position for operating,as set forth.

Like letters refer to like parts in each drawlug.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation when in use as a sofa or settee.Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same on a line transversely through thecenter. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section when the sofa is converted intoberths. Fig. at is a central cross-section of same.

The improvements in the combined sofa and berths are intended toeconomize room where limited space will notadmitof sufficientsleepingaccommodations. In the case of hotels, boarding-houses, ships,river-boats, and when placed longitudinallyin railroad-cars, where thenumber of guests or passengers exceeds the facilities, their utility isobvious. Curtains may be attached to the under part of the up per berth,which will inclose the lower berth,

and when using theentire as a sofa they can be folded underneath theupper berth and secured by elastic straps or other device. In

like manner a curtain suspended by rods or wire frame from the ceilingor top of the sofa may-inclose the whole, where persons may divestthcniselves and retire free from observation.

A is the framed back of the sofa, for which may be substituted the wallsor partitionwalls of a house or the sides, dividing-partitions, orbulk-heads of ships. B B are its ends.

O is the front of the sofa or settee box, of any suitable dimensions.

D is a horizontal frame underneath the whole, the entire firmly securedand forming one compact piece.

Eis a loose frame on which a cushion is made, and is used for the backof the sofa,

said cushion being held in its position by the pins a a, the lower edgeof the cushion resting on the seat of the sofa. When worked bymechanism, 1) is the end of a shaft of iron, to

' which may be applied a crank for elevating or lowering the upperberth.

c 0 are doors, one at each end of the sofa, for inclosing crank, boots,850., the sliding box or upper berth fitting in the sofa-box C. Theposition of the doors d d is shown in Fig. 2, when the entire is used asa sofa, to elevate the loose cushion F inside-the sliding box G, saidsliding box having neither bottom nor top, but projecting inside cleatsk k to support the loose cushion F when used as aberth.

In Fig. 3 the doors d d are shown depressed when the sofa is convertedinto berths.

H H are the vertical rods or guides, on which, supported by theguide-brackets f f, the box G slides. The ends of the guides H H aresecured to and near the top edge of the back-frame A, said guidesrunning down to and are secured to the top side of the frame D, neareach end of the sofa, and are parallel.

E is the cushioned back of the sofa, placed horizontally on thecross-pieces g g, midway of the depth and within the sofa-box 0, whenused as and forming the bottom of the lower berth.

h h are spaces for pillows, blankets, sheets, &c.

The hoisting mechanism consists of a shaft,

m, of iron, placed across the sofa from the front to the back, the frontend of the shaft passing through the sofa-box C, on the same level withthe bottom of the box G when in its lowest position. To the end of saidshaft and in the frame A is attached a ratchet-wheel and detent or pawlto support the box (3 in any position while removing or inserting thepins a a. Attached to the ratchet-wheel is a small clutch-pulley,12,Working around which is a chain extending upwardand within thebackframe A of the sofa, to and over another pulley, 19, secured withinand near the top of said back, around which the chain works. The

mechanism is placed about midway thelength of the sofa. The pin 1-,passing through one of the links of the chain, is secured to the middleof the back part of the sliding box G. A screw, wire rope, or otherequivalents may be used to produce the same effect.

9 g'rare cross-pieces, to which are attached the doors d d, and form thesupportsof the cushion E when used as a lower berth.

. To convert the sofa into berths, first remove the pins a a'at the endsof the sofa. Then pull out the lower part of the back-cushion, E,allowing it to slide on the seat F, cushion upward. Apply the crank tothe end I) of the shaft, and with a few revolutions the sliding box Gwill ascend up the guides H H to the top,when the pins aamay beinsertedthrough the ends B B of the sofa and guide-rods H H underthebracketsff'.All is now secure. Re-

ward, apply the crank to the shaft, as before,"

and draw out the pins a. a and let them hang by their chains. Then lowerthe upper berth by a reverse motion of the crank to its lowest extentwithin the sofa-box 0, when the cushion E may be placed, as before,against the back-frame A, and secured by the pins a a, as before. On thearrir'al of the box G and cushions at the bottom of the guides, thecushion F will be found to have placed itself at the top of the box G,thus making the seat for the sofa, as before.

I claim 1. The combination,with the fixed frame A, of the seat and berthframe E and seat, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the sofa-box C, constructed as described, ofthe seat-elevating doors or stops d d, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. The arrangement at the back of the seat,

and in the manner described, of the hoistinggear, for the purpose setforth. JOHN SUTTON.

Witnesses:

L. A. ROBERTS, Can. J. LoRIeAN.

